I've been a subscriber of Dish Network since 1998. I've lived with all the price & fee increases. I got screwed (like most others) when Dish lost the distant networks.
All American Direct tried to screw me for their distant networks, and because of that I've refused to pay for NBCCBSABCFOX over satellite for years.
I did get one of the Winegard OTA antennas from Dish, but only had limited success with anything other than the NBC local.
Now, Dish is finally offering my local DMA networks, one of the last to be offered in the country. So I've been reading the SatGuys DishNet forum and doing my homework before calling DishNet. I haven't moved to HD yet, but getting the locals from them requires it in my case. (HD only on 77* sat)
After preparation, I called Dish last night. I sent customer service a letter explaining what happened, it wasn't 'pretty'. Scroll down if you're interested in reading it. BTW, has anyone got a good address (electronic or snailmail) for Charlie Ergen or some of the other 'bigs' at DishNet?
As you may have guessed, I'm am more than a bit perturbed at these jokers right now. I guess after all the bull that I've taken from them over the years, that this is "the straw that broke the camels back".
I'm seriously looking at going to Directv, or even (gasp) even looking at Comcast cable.
I'm trying to educate myself on D* offerings. I'm not a big movie or sports fan, but I would like the cheapest dvr offering that's available, and a package that's comparable with Dish's AT200. I think that D* locals are SD only, but that really isn't that big of a deal to me right now, but I would like to have locals back after all these years of doing without.
Money is TIGHT, and I'm trying to keep my monthly costs to <$70/month. My main tv is HD, and HD channels would be nice, but are not a necessity to me at this time. The second tv is rarely watched anymore, I might just take it out.
So, if anyone has actually read all of this, and has any suggestions about Directv offerings, or even a suggestion for negotiating a better deal with Dish, I'd appreciate it.
All American Direct tried to screw me for their distant networks, and because of that I've refused to pay for NBCCBSABCFOX over satellite for years.
I did get one of the Winegard OTA antennas from Dish, but only had limited success with anything other than the NBC local.
Now, Dish is finally offering my local DMA networks, one of the last to be offered in the country. So I've been reading the SatGuys DishNet forum and doing my homework before calling DishNet. I haven't moved to HD yet, but getting the locals from them requires it in my case. (HD only on 77* sat)
After preparation, I called Dish last night. I sent customer service a letter explaining what happened, it wasn't 'pretty'. Scroll down if you're interested in reading it. BTW, has anyone got a good address (electronic or snailmail) for Charlie Ergen or some of the other 'bigs' at DishNet?
As you may have guessed, I'm am more than a bit perturbed at these jokers right now. I guess after all the bull that I've taken from them over the years, that this is "the straw that broke the camels back".
I'm seriously looking at going to Directv, or even (gasp) even looking at Comcast cable.
I'm trying to educate myself on D* offerings. I'm not a big movie or sports fan, but I would like the cheapest dvr offering that's available, and a package that's comparable with Dish's AT200. I think that D* locals are SD only, but that really isn't that big of a deal to me right now, but I would like to have locals back after all these years of doing without.
Money is TIGHT, and I'm trying to keep my monthly costs to <$70/month. My main tv is HD, and HD channels would be nice, but are not a necessity to me at this time. The second tv is rarely watched anymore, I might just take it out.
So, if anyone has actually read all of this, and has any suggestions about Directv offerings, or even a suggestion for negotiating a better deal with Dish, I'd appreciate it.
Letter to Dish Net:
After 8:00pm Eastern time on June 7, 2010, I called Dish Network to see what would need to be done for me to receive my local DMA network channels via satellite.
I spoke to CSR Katharine (Operator code: ***). She answered many of my questions. She said that they would upgrade my model 508 dvr to a model 612. She said that there would be a $6 dvr fee, and my AT200 package would increase to $54.99/month, and no other costs, provided that I made a 24 month agreement. She even checked if I could have the $5 disconnect fee for the national PBS feed waived... (she said the PBS disconnect would be waived).
I did request that instead of taking the model 612 dvr as specified in the deal, that I'd prefer to downgrade to the model 211k HD receiver instead. She said that she could not do that, but agreed to transfer me to a supervisor to see if they could do it.
I spoke to the supervisor, who said his operator code was ***. He said that he could do the change with a model 211k HD receiver instead of the model 612 dvr, and no additional charges for the equipment.
There was never any mention of a $95 technician/installer fee by either Dish representative, until after I thought that we had everything worked out, and I'd given the supervisor my credit card number. I told him that the previous representative had not mentioned that extra fee, and he should not have waited to tell me about it until after I gave him my credit card number.
He said that I could have the installation fee reduced to $15, if I agreed to start a service agreement for $6/month. I asked if I would be charged a fee for canceling the service agreement later. He said that Dish charges a $25 cancellation fee for the service agreement. I told him that was also unacceptable, given that he didn't tell me about the $95 installers fee until after I had told him my credit card number.
I asked the supervisor if we could do the deal as we had discussed to that point, but have the equipment shipped to me, and I would install it myself and not pay the $95 installer fee. I explained that I've installed and repaired C-Band dishes. I have installed Directv systems, and I've self-installed my Dish Network systems at each location that I've lived since I've been a subscriber. I also explained that I've got a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a licensed Amateur Radio operator. In other words, I could handle my own installation. He said that he couldn't ship me the equipment so that I could install it myself, regardless of my abilities.
So, I instructed him to cancel the order, and to cancel the $1 hold that he'd mentioned earlier on my credit card.
I've been a Dish Network customer since 1998, and have no desire to change to Directv or Comcast cable. But I'm not so loyal of a customer that I will allow the Dish representatives advise me of additional fees only 'after' giving them my credit card number, and in my understanding that I wouldn't have any other fees if I agreed to a 24-month commitment. Their action was morally, if not legally, a 'bait and switch'.
I also have a basic understanding of economics. I've read that Dish Network needs to increase the number of subscribers by 15% to 20% in order to break even on the "HD Free for Life" promotion. I know that as one customer, my subscription won't make much of a difference. However, in this modern communications age with the Internet, email, forums, etc., it won't take much for me to post this letter where existing and potential customers can read it, and perhaps make a bigger impact.
I'll contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General of Virginia if this can't be resolved. I have written many times to my Congressman, Rick Boucher, about the availability of distant and local network channels throughout the years. He happens to be the US House of Representatives committee chairman who was instrumental in getting the STELA legislation renewed, and probably would not be happy to hear what happened.
If anyone has read all of this, then you are a 'glutton for punishment', but I congratulate you anyway!
After 8:00pm Eastern time on June 7, 2010, I called Dish Network to see what would need to be done for me to receive my local DMA network channels via satellite.
I spoke to CSR Katharine (Operator code: ***). She answered many of my questions. She said that they would upgrade my model 508 dvr to a model 612. She said that there would be a $6 dvr fee, and my AT200 package would increase to $54.99/month, and no other costs, provided that I made a 24 month agreement. She even checked if I could have the $5 disconnect fee for the national PBS feed waived... (she said the PBS disconnect would be waived).
I did request that instead of taking the model 612 dvr as specified in the deal, that I'd prefer to downgrade to the model 211k HD receiver instead. She said that she could not do that, but agreed to transfer me to a supervisor to see if they could do it.
I spoke to the supervisor, who said his operator code was ***. He said that he could do the change with a model 211k HD receiver instead of the model 612 dvr, and no additional charges for the equipment.
There was never any mention of a $95 technician/installer fee by either Dish representative, until after I thought that we had everything worked out, and I'd given the supervisor my credit card number. I told him that the previous representative had not mentioned that extra fee, and he should not have waited to tell me about it until after I gave him my credit card number.
He said that I could have the installation fee reduced to $15, if I agreed to start a service agreement for $6/month. I asked if I would be charged a fee for canceling the service agreement later. He said that Dish charges a $25 cancellation fee for the service agreement. I told him that was also unacceptable, given that he didn't tell me about the $95 installers fee until after I had told him my credit card number.
I asked the supervisor if we could do the deal as we had discussed to that point, but have the equipment shipped to me, and I would install it myself and not pay the $95 installer fee. I explained that I've installed and repaired C-Band dishes. I have installed Directv systems, and I've self-installed my Dish Network systems at each location that I've lived since I've been a subscriber. I also explained that I've got a Bachelors Degree in Electrical Engineering, and a licensed Amateur Radio operator. In other words, I could handle my own installation. He said that he couldn't ship me the equipment so that I could install it myself, regardless of my abilities.
So, I instructed him to cancel the order, and to cancel the $1 hold that he'd mentioned earlier on my credit card.
I've been a Dish Network customer since 1998, and have no desire to change to Directv or Comcast cable. But I'm not so loyal of a customer that I will allow the Dish representatives advise me of additional fees only 'after' giving them my credit card number, and in my understanding that I wouldn't have any other fees if I agreed to a 24-month commitment. Their action was morally, if not legally, a 'bait and switch'.
I also have a basic understanding of economics. I've read that Dish Network needs to increase the number of subscribers by 15% to 20% in order to break even on the "HD Free for Life" promotion. I know that as one customer, my subscription won't make much of a difference. However, in this modern communications age with the Internet, email, forums, etc., it won't take much for me to post this letter where existing and potential customers can read it, and perhaps make a bigger impact.
I'll contact the Federal Trade Commission and the Attorney General of Virginia if this can't be resolved. I have written many times to my Congressman, Rick Boucher, about the availability of distant and local network channels throughout the years. He happens to be the US House of Representatives committee chairman who was instrumental in getting the STELA legislation renewed, and probably would not be happy to hear what happened.
is not a "service call", so the $95 fee should not apply.
